Page 18 - BKCOB CSI Guide 2015

How active citizens can change the face

of business

The term “corporate social responsibility” lead to the creation of a business-friendly
became popular in the 1960s and has environment, is naive to say the least.
remained a term used by many to cover Legislation is unlikely to offer a creative
legal and moral responsibility. If we could solution for working together. The word
rephrase this simply as “Active Citizenship” synergy comes to mind.
we would perhaps shift the “what do
we have to give?” thinking to “look what
we can receive”. Active citizens lead by “
tackling challenges whether they be In order to make our region
economic, political, business or social
challenges. The partnership between sustainable, we need to
BKCOB and the NGO Coalition is one such come up with creative ways
example of leadership. of working together, ways
What has become evident as we have that are mutually beneficial.
embarked on this joint venture is that
business needs patience and compassion “
when dealing with NPOs who do not
always have a business model that looks Synergy is an interaction which produces
familiar. In most cases there is an absence a combined effect greater than the sum of
of a receptionist to take calls, a flyer to separate efforts. To invest in our province’s
disperse information or a fax number to future, business has to see the synergy
send documents to. There are definitely part and not the responsibility part. NPOs
those who are willing to see past these need to see the synergy part and not the
barriers, and we are beginning to see the “what are you giving us?” part. To find ways
emergence of real and lasting alliances for our efforts to achieve this, we need to
which bring extensive resources to the think deeply together. Active citizens from
promotion of critical agendas in the NPOs meeting with active citizens from
Eastern Cape. business, will create a new story for the
Eastern Cape.
In order to make our region sustainable,
we need to come up with creative ways of Carey-Lyn Kurten
working together, ways that are mutually Mila
beneficial. The perception that an annual Partnerships for Possibility
donation to an NPO can tick the box and

18 | Corporate Social Investment Guide